St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-01-20
THE LAST NAIL DRIVEN
1t Is Senator Davis Now Beyond a Doubt,
and the Honorable Gentleman
Can Sleep Soundly.
He Need Have No Fears About Demo
cratic Plots and Schemes by
Nelson or Mcmillan.
Full Text of His Speech of Accept
ance--Two Important Bills
in the House.
Bills to Tax Sioux City Railroad
Lands and Create a Township
School District System.

y
1t Is no trouble to elect a United States
Senator in Minnesota, as was demonstrated
yesterday at the state capitol. There were
noformal ballots necessary. and that made it
so much easier. 1t only required the read
ing OF the members of the house and senate
by the clerk, and the announcement of the
result of the ballots on the previous day
py the speaker. and G. K. Davis was
clothed with authority to represent Mime
sofa in the United States senate for six
years, dating from March 4, 1887. There
were no dramatic scenes; tie enthusiasm
was not marked by any means; in fact the
event was one of ordinary interest. The
joint session convened in the house chamber
exactly at noon, after the house had trans
acted its usual amount of routine business.
The senators and dignitaries had
filed in and taken the chairs re-
served for them; the lobby was
packed full. the galleries were overfowing
when, after the result had been announced
by the speaker, Senator Davis appeared in
the main doorway, accompanied by the
committee that had been appointed to no
tify him of his election-Senator Edwards
and Representatives Bjorge and Warren.
There was considerable applause as he
passed up the aisle, which was renewed
with increased vigor when he reached the
speakers desk. Speaker Merriam pre-
sented him. after the usual formula, and the
senator then proceeded with his speech. He
did not read from manuscript, but neld a
small sheet OF notes in his hand, to which
he frequently referred The senator's eff
fort was by no means ambitious, and in
this respect it was a disappointment to al
most everybody. Neither did the gentle
man make the slightest attempt to display
his power of oratory. and, as for delivery,
the speech was rather tame. There was
slight applause twice, but no enthusiasm
was aroused. The senator's speech in full
was as follows:
Mr.. Speaker, Senators and Representatives:
You have Informed me through your COM
mittee that l have been elected to represent
in part, this commonwealth in the senate of
the United States; and l appear at your invi-
tatlon, and in obedience to custom, to ac-
knowledge the honor you have conferred
upon ME. l thank you, and through you /
-Nank the people of the state for their choice.
= fulfills an aspiration which, in an honora-
S,udieS and thoughts. / accept the office, in
7eH hope that the expectations which q gen.
SHtus constituency may entertain will not be
- oily disappointed. You will permit me to
ss: that the unanimity with which a great
.hity has selected me for this Office makes
fear that too much is required of me, and
Gardens me with that diffidence which any
D'n' ought to feel under such circumstances.
Ihe restrictions of this occasion do not per-
Lit any elaborate statement of
POLITICAL OPINIONS.
| trust that Such statement is not at all
ne .essary. 1t has been my endeavor on all
occasions TO state my convictions frankly,
aud / think that no sincere person, who has
heard me, can have misunderstood me. l will
say that, in my opinion, an unnecessary sur
Plus public revenue is a political and econom-
icel evil. That the revenues now collected by
tha federal government are too great, and
tnat the true interests of the people require
& wise and careful revision and reduction of
5ndirect taxation, which will not lessen the
wages OF labor or injure the industries of the
country. Ever since the year 1873, when the
generous people of this state elected me to
the office of governor, because they believed
l stood at an advanced point of thought as an
advocate Of their rights in tine attempt to as
sert the power of the law over the corpora
tions. IL has been my aim to continue upon
the logical line of such principles. and 1 am
persuaded that it is your belief in this which
has caused you to invest me with this, the
highest testimonial of your confidence. AS q
senator from this state / shall consider my
sell the
SERVANT OF ITS PEOPLE,
bound to protect their interests and TO re-
spect their wishes. In my efforts to do this l
bespeak for myself their patience and con-
siderate Judgment; assuring them that no eff
fort of mine shall be wanting 10 deserve their
approval. l cannot let this occasion pass
without acknowledging my Obligations to my
friends and pSnooiailv nf
state. That the peoples voice spoke through
this oracle of popular opinion makes my OBJ
legation tc it none the less, and here tender
my thanks for an advocacy which has so often
spoken in the language of personal affection
as to touch my heart and establish q lasting
resting place in my memory. The duties OF q
senator or representative from this state will
be intimately connected with the new North
west, of which Minnesota is part. 1t is now
nearly thirty years since Mr.. Seward the most
prescient Of American statesmen, stood upon
the steps of this capitol, and looking into the
seeds of time, declared that he spoke from q
place destined to be the centre of great en-
pire. This, like other memorable utterances
Of that
PROPHETIC SPIRIT,
was received with incredulity which has long
since ceased, and has been succeeded by be-
lief, as his prediction has come to pass. He
stood where civilization then stood, pausing
upon her Western outposts. To-day there is
not in the Northwest frontier from which
such prediction could be made. That which
he foresaw exists. Great communities fill the
area from the Mississippi 10 the Pacific
Washington. Idaho. Montana and Dakota
struggling in the trammels of an unjust pu.
pilage. The relations of Minnesota to these
communities are of the most intimate charac-
ter and will continue TO be SO. The empire
of the Northwest was founded here, and, fol
many years to come, the identity of interest:
will make it the duty and interest of every
citizen of this state to labor for its aggrand
izement. ] esteem it rs one of the creates
privileges of my life to be called to position
where, in some degree, L can assist in the de-
velopment of that vast region of which Min
nesota is now the most powerful component
Repeating, gentlemen, my thanks for the
honor which you have conferred upon me,
pledge my best endeavors to prove myself
worthy OF the esteem which the gift of suct
honor implies.
The joint convention then dissolved anG
the house adjourned.